I tested… muscle electrostimulation
With the idea of resuming physical activity soon, at the end of knee rehabilitation, I became interested in this new way of training which is muscle electrostimulation.
Ideal therefore for those who, like me, have physical restrictions, injuries or joint pain or those who do not have time to go to the gym for example.
EMS, what is it?
The goal of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is to stimulate muscles using micro-electrical impulses.
Each session lasts 25 minutes in total. This type of treatment once a week would be equivalent to 4 hours of intensive training in the gym.
Its benefits:
- Relief of stress, anxiety etc.
- Increased muscle mass
- Weight loss
- Toning and stimulation of the body
- Body firming
- Fitness
- Reduction of chronic pain
- No jumping, no moving, so less risk of injury.
How does it work?
So I headed to the Iron Body Fit Pro Mont Royal center for a trial session. Nothing special to bring except your sneakers. Everything is lent to you on site, including shower gel.
Indeed, when I arrived, I was lent a special outfit: shorts + tight short-sleeved top. To be worn without any underwear (but you can keep your bottoms on if you are not comfortable with this idea).
The coach then sets up the equipment and the electrodes, which must be well wet. Water is a conductive agent for stimulation to the muscle.
So I put on a vest a bit like bulletproof vests, an adjustable belt at the height of the buttocks, two belts around the biceps and finally two others around the thighs. All very tight.
Really, you feel like you're in a corset for your bust.
The electrodes are then attached to the 8 muscle groups that will be worked: Biceps, triceps, thighs, glutes, abs, pectorals, lower back and back.
There are a maximum of 3 people per session in the studio.
At the start, I had on one side, a lady with little cries of exaggerated pain I think really and a man on my right who was her complete opposite. Super calm and smiling, not seeming to suffer at all. And yet far from having an athletic build and already of a certain age. Two rooms, two atmospheres therefore :-).
The goal of the session is to work these 8 muscle groups simultaneously for 15-20 minutes, at a crescendo of intensity, directed by the coach.
It starts with tickles felt in each muscle group activated one by one and then simultaneously. This then turns into more or less strong contraction until its peak in the last 5 minutes.
I have to look at the machine in front of me to follow a precise rhythm:
- When the light is blue, I position myself and prepare for the upcoming contraction
- When it's red, I tense up as much as I can while remembering to breathe.
- When it turns green again, I release
- Then the next wave comes.
Please note that these 3 steps are 4 seconds each so there is no rest.
The coach shows me the postures to apply and corrects me if necessary: squats, mini lunges, etc. Because the muscle must always be flexed otherwise you literally feel like you're being tasered!
You should not undergo the discharge but accompany the contraction.
Honestly, ladies and gentlemen, you will correct me, but I felt like I was experiencing what it was like to have labor contractions during the last 5 minutes of the session.
I imagine you get a little more acclimated to each session when you do them regularly.
And let's be clear, no one is used to having 8 muscle groups working at the same time in their physical activities.
During real sessions then if you take a subscription (except trial session like me), the last 5 minutes are more like small taps. This would release the lactic acid in the muscles. Thus preventing aches and pains afterwards and this feeling of a sore body in the days to follow.
It would also help to lose cellulite.
Since I didn't get to do it, I can confirm that those 15-20 minutes worked well on my body. I had sore thighs and arms for 3 days :-).
Like a real intensive training session in the gym
With the same feeling of having worked on your cardio, with the good post-workout fatigue but energy all the same.
Rates
The only downside for me, which prevents me from continuing this type of training, is unfortunately the price...
The packages here in Quebec at least, are very expensive. A far cry from the affordable subscriptions offered in France, the market leader for many years.
We are paying for the innovative side of this type of activity that is muscle electrostimulation here I imagine.
There are 2 packages:
- Silver – 316.20 $ taxes included for 3 months
- Gold – 258.70 $ taxes included for 6 months
- 10 session card – 776.08 $
It is possible to do it per session otherwise but it is of course much less profitable than with a package like everywhere (91.98 $ per session).
Packages include a body assessment every 6 weeks.
For more information: https://ironbodyfit.com/
The first trial session is free. So whether you join or not, I want to say, it costs nothing to go and try the experience and make up your own mind 😉
To your sneakers!
